The Glory of God in Zion
Isaiah 60:1-7
Bishops Waltham 15.03. 15
For thousands of years people have wanted to know about the future, or more specifically, their
personal future. They’ve consulted witches, fortune tellers, psychics, palm readers, tea leaves,
animal entrails, tarot cards, horoscopes and astrologists – to name a few.
They have hoped to find destinies that are full of love, adoration, wealth, influence and fates that
are guided by lucky stars that navigate them safely through the galaxy of this time-space world, to
make right decisions, to guarantee the best outcome, then to steer their ships to a final safe port.
How sad that they do not know that the Bible is the greatest and most reliable source of prophetic
insight available in the world - and has been since the earliest civilisation! A major portion of both
the Old and New Testament is devoted to predictive prophecy. There are 1,239 prophecies in the
Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament. Only four of the 66 books of the Bible
are without prophecy-Ruth, the Song of Solomon, Philemon, and 3 John.
Most of these prophecies are concerned with specific historical incidents, international affairs,
ruling nations like Assyria, Babylonia, Greece, Rome and, of course, Israel; they include natural
catastrophes, personalities like kings and national leaders and a massive amount about Jesus
Christ’s first arrival, his character, birthplace, activities etc and ultimately his return to this world to
wind up history as we know it. And then there are many about the church – todays subject.
These prophecies are given, not just to accommodate our intrigue or satisfy our curiosity, but
rather to keep us on God’s page, to let us know what he is doing and what he will do, to motivate
us to action, to encourage us to prepare and, I think, most of all, to prompt us to pray.
Today I would like to speak from the prophet Isaiah, who is often called the Prince of Prophets, not
because he is the first major prophet listed in the Bible, nor because his prophecy is the longest,
but rather because of the amazing content of his prophetic words. The name “Isaiah” actually
means “the salvation of the Lord” and his book speaks primarily about the salvation that God
brings and the Saviour that brings it… How God will break into this world to help people like you
and I – salvation, forgiveness, restoration, reinstatement, transformation, a hope and a future, in
this life and the next.
Isaiah’s résumé is impressive. His track record of accuracy is impeccable. There are scores of
prophecies that he gave that were fulfilled in history, but the most striking are those he gave about
the Messiah, that is Jesus Christ.
His massive book of prophecy is peppered throughout with innumerable and specific prophecies
about Jesus: it is really amazing! He says the Messiah would be born of a virgin (7:14), that his
ministry would begin in Galilee (9:1-2), that he would be an heir to the throne of David (9:7; 11:1,
10), that John the Baptist would prepare the way for his arrival, (40:3-5), that God’s Spirit would
rest upon him in power (11:2), that he would bring deliverance, freedom, physical and emotional
healing (61:1-2).
In chapter 53 he speaks at length about the Saviour’s death on the cross, saying he would provide
an atonement of blood (1, 3), that he would carry our sins and sorrows (4, 5), that he would be
substitute (6, 8), that he would voluntarily accept our guilt and punishment for sin (7, 8), that he
would be silent before his accusers (7), that he would die with the transgressors (12), that he
would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (9) even his resurrection (10-11).
We have to take notice of Isaiah! Anyone who is that accurate must be heard!
I want to concentrate on chapter 60 for a short while this morning. It is part of a string of
prophecies that that concentrate on the history of the terminal generation. It concludes in chapter
65-66 with the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, and the chapters before it are filled with
the most wonderful promises of God’s intervention in human affairs – particularly Israel and the
church’. There are many other places where the end times take centre stage, like the book of
Revelation or Matthew 24, but all of those major on trials and tribulations of that time. For example
Jesus speaks of wars, rumours of wars, ethnic wars, false prophets, famines and earthquakes in
various places, pestilences (disease epidemics) persecution and so on. The Book of Revelation
goes into greater detail speaking of successive series of catastrophes that will characterise those
days. Both Jesus and Revelation only have the odd comment regarding the blessings that are
available during this period, but Isaiah reverses that approach, reviewing the heart of God for his
people, using extravagant and bountiful terms, adding only a passing reference regarding the trials
and tribulations.
Verse one: Arise and shine
This implies that the people who are addressed are asleep! They are simply not aware of the light
of day. They need someone to slap them on the thigh and say, “Hey, wake up and look at this.”
Like in Acts 12:9.
This verse is actually quoted (only once) in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians,
5:14, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This means that Paul
thought this passage should be applied to Christians! There are other reasons..double prophecy.
Spurgeon said, “Some Christians appear to have been born in the land of slumber, and they
continually live in their native country of dreams. They rub their eyes occasionally, and suppose
themselves to be wide-awake; but they are in the Enchanted Ground (of sleep), and, though they
know it not, they are little better than sleep-walkers most of their days.
So Isaiah is saying, “C’mon, take a look at what’s available for you. It’s here, what you need and
what you can have, ASK, Fathers good pleasure to give you the K., all promises are Yes and
Amen…Wake up, don’t be sluggish now – everything is within your grasp.
And then Isaiah says 2 things: 1. Your light has come 2. The glory of the Lord rises upon you.
These two expressions are synonymous terms. They refer to the same thing.
Isaiah had already said in 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light: on those
living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” This verse is also quoted in the New
Testament in Matthew 4:16 referring to the early ministry of Jesus in Galilee.
When Jesus came his light shone in the darkness, which implies ignorance, a lack of knowledge.
He brought revelation and understanding. He showed what God was like. He said “if you have
seen me you have seen the Father.” He said “I and the Father are one.” No one was in any doubt
that God was kind, loving, merciful, forgiving and gracious, after they encountered Jesus.
The expression the glory of God rises upon you takes this thought further. It’s like a sunrise – a
slow, almost imperceptible dawning or gradual appearing of the sun’s rays. A dawning of what?
The glory of God. Psalm 19:1 says, “the heavens declare the glory of God.” This means God’s
majesty, his power, his splendour and his awesome beauty can be seen in the heavens above.
John Piper defines God’s glory as, “the infinite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections.”
God’s glory is the summation of all the infinite virtues of God somehow revealed and made
manifest. It’s awesome! It’s on a scale that is overwhelming! It’s his loving kindness, his tender
mercies, his unconditional love, his consummate perfection and his awesome holiness. When God
reveals his glory men are awestruck and cannot stand in his presence.
When Moses went up Mount Sinai it says the glory of the Lord settled there. There was thunder
and lightning and are very loud trumpet that came from heaven itself! Ex 19:16. It made the people
tremble 18. The glory looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain! Wow!
When Solomon dedicated the temple the glory of God came down like a cloud filled the temple 1
Chron 5:13-14 so much so that the priests could not perform their service - we don’t know if they
were just paralysed with fear, physically incapacitated, knocked to the floor or just stunned at
God’s presence - but it happened!
Remember John in Rev 1:17? Awesome! Fell as dead!
So Isaiah is seeing this future event as if it is happening today! I remember the prophet called Bob
Jones, when asked how he remembered so accurately some of the amazing visions that he had,
he said, “because I was there, I saw it with my own eyes, I felt it, I experienced it first-hand!”
And that’s what Isaiah experienced. I tell you there are great things that are going to come upon
the Church of Jesus Christ. God will inundate us with his presence. We will experience awesome
intimacy as God descends in a cloud of glory in the church and over our lives. How can I say that?
Because God has declared through the prophet Isaiah. It will surely come to pass. And we are to
wake up, wise up, get up, soak up some of the glory of God and let our light shine for him! When
God touches you in this way, and reveals his glory to you, you will naturally shine out to others “for
your light has come.”
Of course history has seen some moments like this! Pentecost, Acts 10
I have had some moments like this: Malta, John Wimber, Bishops Waltham!
But something bigger is coming! God is been a deluge the church with his glory! But there’s
something else….
Verse two - See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness over the peoples.
In tandem with this outbreak of God’s presence and power Isaiah sees something else. And I
believe that although he mentions this issue very briefly, unlike other places in the Bible like
Revelation or Matthew 24, he includes it to indicate the time when we can expect to happen.
Jesus spoke about the signs of the times in Matthew 16:3. Signs are given to make us aware of
the time, to prepare us the time and to call us to prayer. See what Isaiah is referring to.
The word “see” refers to the observable and measurable nature of this darkness. It is something
that will be clearly identifiable, conspicuous. It will not be hidden from anyone. It will be easily
recognised by God’s people as a fulfilment of this prophetic word.
It will be universal. It covers “the earth” and involves “the peoples.” There are international
consequences. No nation is excluded.
It is described as “darkness” and worse, “thick darkness.” Darkness in Scripture is often ignorance,
spiritual ignorance which results in idolatry and false religions. At other times darkness is seen as
bondage or enslavement to spiritual powers. Again “darkness” can refer to moral darkness, when
vices have a higher value than virtues, when sinfulness is preferred to sinlessness.
Question: is this what we are seeing in the world today?
I don’t want to give any more exposure to this than Isaiah does, but there are a number of things
which we cannot ignore.
1. The place of Christianity in West - rise of new-age, national attitude against Christianity.
2. The radical restatement of morality - marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, int. porn ¼ hits
3. The unprecedented exposure of paedophiles, corruption, deception and dishonesty in high
places.
4. The rapid rise of militant Islam. Taliban, Al Qaeda now ISIS. Jihadism is the fastest growing
force for revolution and murder in the world today. World domination is what they want, and
nothing will be allowed to stop them.
5. The global financial crisis – Europe owes €10.2 trillion! UK €117,580 per person – highest debt
pp in world!
It’s in the midst of all this God with will reveal his glory to his people! As the world gets darker and
darker the church will get brighter and brighter
Versus 4-6
I’m not going to go through these verses in detail – but let’s look at them generally. The prophet is
filled with joy and amazement saying, ‘Hey, lift up your eyes. Take a look at this sight! People are
coming from every which way. There are all sorts, from the islands of the sea, from near and far.
There will be sons and daughters – like prodigals – having once walked with God. now retuning.
They will come with gifts and abilities to adorn the temple of God 1 Cor 6:19 to build her up and
restore her glory!
There will be loved ones – those that you have witnessed to, loved and prayed for. Suddenly their
eyes will be opened and they will come and say, “Teach us the ways of the Lord” Is 2. They will be
hungry for God. Family members, workmates, colleagues and associates – they will stream to
Jesus Christ and feel his love, his forgiveness and his new life. The downtrodden, the depressed,
the marginalised, the bruised and hurting – they will stream into the House of God and find
freedom and deliverance and new life in Christ!
I can see all the churches filled to overflowing, multiple services, Saturday night opening, because
so many will flock to the house of God!
You will look and be radiant, you heart will throb and swell with joy!! You will be bursting with
appreciation, thanksgiving and praise at what is clearly God’s hand at work!
Successive waves and one last great wave that will be bigger than all – then the end will come.
This is Isaiah’s word – it is true! Let’s get ready for it. Let’s pray. Let’s begin telling people – for the
end will soon be here, time will be no more, and the opportunity will be past!
Amen!